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The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) had its annual meeting in New York City this week. For the past number of years the meeting has featured a Presidential Summit at which the Bar President chooses hot topics of the day for a distinguished panel to discuss. This years topics were wrongful convictions and attorneys use of social media, which centered mostly upon issues of privacy and the internet. I was fortunate this year to be able to attend the Presidential Summit for the first time, and it was well worth the time (I shouldnt say it was well worth the price of admission because attendance was complimentary to meeting registrants). Social media was the first topic discussed. Most surprising was that in the context of using social media and the internet in general, the normally dry topic of ethics becomes not only somewhat interesting, but also something that if ignored can lead to some real headaches. For example, although using Facebook and Twitter can

Highgate LTC Management, LLC, a limited liability company, operated Northwoods Rehabilitation and Extended Care Facility (Northwoods) in Cortland County. Following a 2005 investigation into the care of a patient at Northwoods who was in a persistent vegetative condition, five of its employees were convicted of various crimes relating to their failure to provide required care to that patient, despite stating in facility records that such care had been provided.The operator of the nursing home was subsequently charged in an indictment with six counts of willful violation of health laws and three counts of falsifying business records in the second degree, arising out of its employees' treatment of the patient. Following a jury trial, Northwoods was convicted as charged, sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge prohibiting it from operating Tagged with: Nursing Home Neglectabuse Lawyer Medical Malpractice Personal Injury Lawyer Accident Lawyer

Governor David A. Paterson hassubmitted legislation, known asThe Child Passenger Protection Act, to increase penalties on those who drive while intoxicated (DWI) with children in the car. The Act would make it a felony for individuals to drive while drunk or under the influence of drugs with passengers under the age of 16. Currently, such an offense is considered no more than a misdemeanor and may be treated as a traffic infraction. In light of the recent fatal accidents involving Diane Schuler on the Taconic State Parkway and Carmen Huertas on the Henry Hudson Parkway where children were essentially captives in vehicles being driven by adults the children knew had something wrong with them, passing the law seems like a no-brainer. As if even necessary, in submitting the proposed legislation, Governor Paterson's press release states: In 2007, there were 9,480 accidents related to driver intoxication in New York and 344 resulted in deaths. Nearly 200 of those

TASER Training Bulletin 15.0 Regarding Medical Research Update and Revised Warnings, released on October 12, 2009, removed a persons chest from the preferred target area for the 50,000-volt weapon. The bulletin said that hitting a suspect in the chest from the stun guns could cause an "adverse cardiac event." It marks the first time the company has suggested there is any risk of a cardiac arrest related to the use of Tasers. But three days later, Taser International released an addendum to its training bulletin stating that its recommendation has less to do with safety and more to do with effective risk management for law enforcement agencies that is that since (Taser International claims) heart attacks often occurs in arrest situation without the suspect being shocked, why give a plaintiffs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on July 1, 2009, that it is requiring manufacturers to put a Boxed Warning on the prescribing information for the smoking cessation drugs Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion) and to update the Medication Guides for patients that further discuss the risk of mental health events when using these products. The warning will highlight the risk of serious mental health events including changes in behavior, depressed mood, hostility, and suicidal ideation and behaviors when taking these drugs. The FDA has received additional information bolstering the suggestion of a possible association between both varenicline and bupropion and serious neuropsychiatric symptoms, in both patients with and those without previous history of psychiatric illness. The FDA first informed the public about the possibility of serious neuropsychiatric symptoms with Tagged with: Pharmaceuticals Dangerous Products Lawyer Chantix

In a press release dated June 16, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers to stop use of three over-the-counter Zicam Cold Remedy products: nasal gel, nasal swabs and the discontinued "kids size" swabs. The FDA’s advisory stated that the products are associated with the loss of sense of smell, called anosmia. Anosmia may be long-lasting or permanent. In addition to a loss of the sense of smell, patients have also complained of a loss of the sense of taste. The FDA has received more than 130 reports of loss of sense of smell associated with the use of these three Zicam products.   Many people experienced a loss of smell said the condition with the first dose; others reported a loss of the sense of smell after multiple uses. The active ingredient in Zicam is Zincum Gluconicum (Zinc Gluconate) which can cause nasal nerve damage.   If you notice a burning sensation in the nasal cavity or a loss of smell or taste while using Zicam, stop using